Method of screening compounds for treating bladder cancer

Abstract

Objective methods for detecting and diagnosing bladder cancer (BLC) are described herein. In one embodiment, the diagnostic method involves determining the expression level of a BLC-associated gene that discriminates between BLC cells and normal cells. The present invention further provides means for predicting and preventing bladder cancer metastasis using BLC-associated genes having unique altered expression patterns in bladder cancer cells with lymph-node metastasis. The present invention provides methods of screening for therapeutic agents useful in the treatment of bladder cancer, methods of treating bladder cancer and method for vaccinating a subject against bladder cancer. Specifically, the present application provides novel human genes C2093, B5860Ns and C6055s whose expression is markedly elevated in bladder cancers. The genes and polypeptides encoded by the genes can be used, for example, in the diagnosis of bladder cancers, as target molecules for developing drugs against the disease, and for attenuating cell growth of bladder cancer.

The invention claimed is: 
     
       1. A method of screening for a compound for treating or preventing bladder cancer, said method comprising the steps of:
 (a) contacting a test compound with a polypeptide selected from the group consisting of:
 (1) a polypeptide comprising the amino acid sequence selected from the group consisting of SEQ ID NOs: 2, 4, and 6; 
 (2) a polypeptide that comprises the amino acid sequence selected from the group consisting of SEQ ID NOs: 2, 4, and 6 or a sequence having at least about 80% homology to said sequence; and 
 (3) a polypeptide encoded by a polynucleotide that hybridizes under stringent conditions to a polynucleotide consisting of the nucleotide sequence selected from the group consisting of SEQ ID NOs: 1, 3, and 5, wherein the polypeptide has a biological activity equivalent to a polypeptide consisting of the amino acid sequence selected from the group consisting of SEQ ID NOs: 2, 4, and 6; 
 
 (b) detecting the biological activity of the polypeptide of step (a); and 
 (c) selecting a compound that suppresses the biological activity of the polypeptide in comparison with the biological activity detected in the absence of the test compound; 
 wherein the biological activity is cell-proliferating activity in a bladder cancer cell.